Rotary power unit including means and method for controlling same



May 26, 1942." B. T. FI TZ'PATRICK 2,284,139

ROTARYIPOWER min mcwnme MEANS {\ND METHOD FOR CONTROLLING SAME Filed Nov. 21, 1958 :5 Sheets-Sheet l y 1942- B. T. FITZPATRICK 2,284,139

ROTARY POWER UNIT INCLUDING MEANS -AND METHOD FOR CONTROLLING. SAME Filed Nov. 21, 1938 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 I M y 1942. B. T. FNI'ZFfATRlCK ROTARY POWER UNIT INCLUDING AND METHOD FOR CONTROLLING SAME- Filed Nov. 21, 1958 s Shets-Sheet s Patented May 26, 1942 UNITED STATE i ROTARY POWER. UNIT INCLUDING MEAN S AND METHOD FOR CONTROLLING SAME Bernhardt T. Fitzpatrick, Long Beach, Calif. Application November 21, 1938, Serial No. 241,650

' 5 Claims. (Cl. 12160) My invention relates to power engines, compressors and pumps and more particularly to the special and novel construction of the piston stroke controlling apparatus including the means for adjusting said piston stroke during the operation of the engine;

Manifestly, an object of my invention is to provide a power unit which comprises a rotary type principle and which is adapted for the uses of expansible fluid mediums, such as steam or hydro-carbons, or which may be readily adapted for uses as a fluid pump or compressor without resorting to any alteration of its essential parts and its control units, also, which may be adapted for controlling the fluid flow therethrcugh and which, when in operation, may be so arranged that the fluid flow may be diminished or increased and thereby decreasing or increasing the horsepower of the unit and co-relatively controlling the fluid consumption.

Accordingly an'object of my invention is to provide said power unit with suitable rotor means which is adapted for housing a plurality of cylinders therein, said cylinders being centripetally arranged in said rotor means, each of which is provided with a piston member and each of said pistons having a suitable connecting rod which extends outwardly therefrom, the end of which connects with a suitable link member at one end while its other end is connected to an offset eyelet which is disposed atthe inner side of the fly-wheel member of the apparatus, so that during the operation of said unit the dead center of said rotor means isentirely eliminated,

Another object of my invention is to provide said unit with suitable stroke adjusting means, adapted for simultaneously controlling and adjusting the piston stroke of said unit during its revolution. 7 r

Another object of my invention is to provide a suitably arranged'pair of bearing means, one of which is stationary wherein the fly-lwheel shaft is mounted, while the other is adjustably arranged and adapted for holding the cylinder rotor of said unit in place and during the operative positions and in addition for controlling and regulating the piston position within the cylinders of said rotor and during the operation of the Another object of my invention iszto provide said fly-wheel and the rotor of said unit with a set or a plurality of sets of contact rollers, which are arranged in pairs and which are for the purpose to control the relative planetary movement of said rotor, whether in a fixed or adjustable position, by means of which the relative position of said fly-wheel and said rotor is held and controlled during the revolution of said fly-wheel and during the operation of said unit.

Another object of my invention is to provide said rotor of said unit with a suitable shaft member which is adapted, for holding said rotor in place and in addition said shaft member having suitable adjusting means for adjusting and controlling the rotor position co-relatively to the piston stroke adjusting means of said unit, so that a variable stroke may be had at a constant speed during the of.

Another object of my invention is to provide said rotor shaft with a suitable fluid admitting and fluid exhaust means adaptedefor controlling the fluid passage into and from the cylinders of the rotor and during the operation of the unit.

Another object of my invention is" to provide the inlet and exhaust port means with suitable rotor and during the operation of the unit.

A further object of my invention is'to provide said unit with suitable means which are for inter connecting the rotor shaft adjusting means with the piston stroke regulating means whichare associated with said fly-wheel, so that a ,complete cooperation and at all times'a positive interconnection of the unit controlling and the power delivery members may be had while the power unit is operating under stress or a loader during its idling movement and in addition, providing means for adjusting the power stroke of the pistons for the required load and re-adjusting it for lesser loads during the operation of'said unit.

Further objects and advantages of my invention as will hereinafter more fullyvappear, I attain by the construction herein shown on the drawings and described in the specification forming a part of my application. 1 1 7 Reference is had to the accompanying drawrevolution and operation thereings in which the similar reference characters denote the similar parts.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is the vertical cross-sectional view of my invention taken substantially on the line ll of the Fig. 2.

Fig, 2 is the vertical cross-sectional view of my invention taken on the line 2--2 of the Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 shows the top elevational view of the controlling lever showing a partly cross-sectional view. of the lever bearing, taken from the top of the Fig. 2. e

. Fig. 4 shows an enlarged cross-sectional view of contact rollers and the controlling means associated therewith, taken from Fig. 1.

Fig. 5 shows the transverse cross-sectional vie ward extension 22, while the center is provided with a bearing member 24 extending in its preferred position inwardly and outwardly, as shown, which is adapted for mounting in place said fly-wheel shaft member 8.

Said shaft member 8 is provided at one end with a suitable flange 26 to which the fly-wheel web 28 is fastened in any suitable manner most adaptable in practice, while the opposite end 30 of said shaft 8 is provided with a suitable shaft coupling 32, as shown.

In order .to provide uniform stability of said shaft 8, the bearing member 24 at the inward extension 34, is provided with suitable frictionof the rotor shaft, showing the position of the the shaft Fig. 10 is the cross-sectional view of the fluid control shaft showing the inlet and exhaust ports in position and adapted for the forward,

clock-wise rotation of the cylinders.

Fig. 11 is the cross-sectional viewwof the fluid controlshaft showing the inlet and the exhaust ports in position and in relation to the cylinders in the rotor. and adapted for the reverse, anticlockwise rotation of said cylinders.

Fig. 12 is the transverse cross-sectional view of therotor shaft adjusting means, taken on the line |2-l2 of the Fig. 1.

Fig. 13 is the fragmentary vertical cross-sectional view of the rotor shaft, taken on the line l3l 3 of the Fig. 12. V a

Fig. 14 showsthe front elevational view of the contact rollers, in modified form. r

Fig. 15 shows the transverse cross-sectional view of the contact rollers, taken on the line l5- -l5 of the Fig. 14..

Fig. 16.shows the fragmentary cross-sectional View of the engine unit, showing the position of the speed controls, in modified form.

Fig. 17 shows the variable stroke control for the pistons in the rotor of the engine, shown in modified form. l

Fig, 18 is the vertical cross-sectional view of the rotor shaft, showing the stabilizing pins in place, taken on the line l8|8 ofthe Fig. 13. M Describing my inventionmore in detail, said invention comprises 'a rotor, generally designated by numeral 2 which is rotatably mounted upon a, rotor shaft 4, also, having afly-wheel 6 which is mounted upon the fly wheel shaft 8.

, Said rotor 2 with said rotor shaft 4 is mounted within the bearing housing I6 of the front housing cover member l2 to which the center housing I4 is attached and which is adapted for encompassing the rim [6 of said fly-wheel 6, while its side section is provided with a suitable extension bracket member I8 adapted for fas.

tening same in position;

The rear section of said center housing I4 is provided with the rear housing cover member 20,its center being provided with a central out-L less bearing member 36, while the outward extension bearing section 38 is equipped with a frictionless bearing member 40 heldin place by means of a suitable bearing cap 42 by reason of which said shaft 8 will revolve freely without any of the side or radial thrust and under constant or variable load, about its center axis. The rotor 2 is also provided with suitable bearing retaining flanges 44 positioned one at each side, which are for the purpose to hold suitable frictionless bearings 46 is place; said bearings 46 being mounted against the shaft shoulder'section 48, of which, one end, bearing is held in place by means of the shaft endflange cap 58 while the other bearing is held in place by means of the upper section of the retaining flange, the purpose and operation of which will be presently described. 7

Thecenter bore 52 of said rotor 2, is revolusaid shaft 4, for allowing its revolving movement thereabout without undue surface friction, supported therein by means of the bearings 46, and, the rotor body section 54' is provided with a plurality of cylinders 56 which are centripetally positioned in respect to the rotor center, as shown in Fig. 2; having the cylinder head section 58 in close proximity to said shaft shoulder section 48 and terminating with an openingor a passage 60, of which, the side section commensurates the width of the fluid passage 62 of the said shaft 4, while the face'section thereof is tapered toward the center, as shown in Fig. 2.

Said cylinders 56 are provided with suitable pistons 64, each having a connecting rod member 66 which is hingedly connected to the piston and having the outer end 68 hingedly connected to the cross link. member 10, thus allowing said cros's link member 18 to extend transversely and inside of the fly-wheel rim lii'where it is hingedly attached to a suitable eyelet 14 by means of a hinge pin 16, see Figs. 2 and 3.

Said cross link member 10 is provided with an eyelet 18 extending transversely to the link center axis, to which the link extension is connected, see Fig. 1, having its extended end 82 hingedly connected to one end of the pivot bar member 84 which is pivotally mounted as at 86, while the extending end thereof is provided with the piston stroke controlling slot 88 held pivotally connected, as at I02, to the outward cxtensionhousing 22 and therein controlled by the control lever [03, see Fig. 1, the operation of which will be presently described.

In order to provide a positive cooperative relationship between the fly-wheel 6 and the rotor 2 during their revolution, suitable contact rollers,

generally designated by numeral I64 are provided, see Figs, 1, 2, 4, 14 and 15, of which the roller IDS is revolubly mounted upon the rotor exterior surface I98 and held in place by means of a stud member H0, while the other roller H2 is stationary at a set point however it is slideably mounted within the roller socket I I4 and held therein by means of the roller control stud IIS, having the extending end provided with an eyelet H8, as shown in Figs. 1 and 4.

In order to control the relative position of the rotor 2 in respect to the adjustable stroke, as in practice may be most desirable, saidrollers IE6 and H2 respectively, are provided with suitable conical body structures and to identical diametrical pitch, notwithstanding, that when the piston stroke is fixed at any desired stroke movement and to a positive'rotor eccentricity, said rollers need not be conical and consequently diametrically cylindrical rollers of suitable diameter will sumce, see Figs. 14 and -15, however, for the purpose of control of said conical rollers,

a suitable linkage is provided therein, comprising a pair of cross links of which, the link I29 is pivotally engaged as at I22 to the bracket member I24 having one end hingedly connected to the eyelet H8 of the control stud H6 and also provided with an elongated slot I 19 for eliminating possible binding, while the other link I26 is pivotally mounted upon a bracket member I28, having the end IZS'engaging the recess I39 and held therein in place by means of a suitable pin 32 to the control collar member 94 while the free end of said link I20 is provided with a slot.

I34 and adapted for slidably engaging the pin member I36 disposed at the free end I31 of said link I25, as shown in Fig. 4. a

In order to prevent said roller H2 from rotating a suitable cross pin or a number of them as at I32, are provided for holding said roller in place and further, to allow said roller I06 to rotate freely about its center, its internal section is provided with a pair of frictionless bearings Mi? and M2 respectively, of which, one is moun ed upon the stud member Ht while the other is mounted upon the bushing member I44 having its end set firmly within the body section 54 and supported in place by means of said stud member I I 0, as shown in Fig. 4.

It may be noted, that as previously mentioned, said rollers we and H2 may, in construction, be diametrically cylindrical, see Figs. 14 and 15 and therefore said fly-wheel web 28 is provided with a roller MS of required diameter and commensurating to the piston stroke, said" roller I46 being positioned within a suitable recess I48 and held in place by means of the stud member I59, while the roller 152 is provided with frictionless bearing I54 and revolubly mounted upon a suitable stud member !56 which is secured to the ing I0 and alsofor holding the bearing member 46 in place, while the other end protrudes therethrough and is held in place by means of a pair of'lock nuts I64, see Figs. 12 and 13.

Internally within said eccentric member I an eccentric bushing I 66 is positioned having an off-center bore I68 wherein the rotor shaft 4 is held, and, in order to provide a reasonably free sliding movement of said eccentric bushing I66 within the bore I16, the outside section of said eccentric member I56 is provided with a suitable stabilizing bushing I12 and is held in place by means of suitable stabilizing studs I13, which are screwed into the suitable boss of the bearing I9 having the end I14 enclosed with a retaining ring member I15 in Figs. 12, 13, and 18, respectively as shown.

In order to allow a free rotative movement of the outside eccentric member I60, which may be in either direction as may be required to control the center position of the rotor shaft 4, said eccentric member IE5, at the adjacent sections of said stabilizing studs I13 is provided withsuitable recesses I11, see Fig. 18, thus allowing the stabilizing bushing I12 to traverse downwardly or upwardly upon the center line, while the eccentric bushing I66 turning in opposite direction will maintain the center for the said rotor shaft 4.

In the bottom section of the bushing member I12 preferably at the structurally'heaviest section of said eccentric member I68 is mounted a pinion shaft having a suitable pinion gear I18 .the teeth of which are adapted to engage and are mounted within the bearing members I92,

and at the one end thereofv having a suitable control wheel I92, connected thereto, as shown.

,'It may be noted, that the gear teeth I80 and I82, are out in radial proportion corresponding to the eccentrical movement of the eccentric member I60 and the eccentric bushing I66, so

that, in engagement, the pinion gear I18 turns said eccentrics in opposite directions, thus causing vtherespective centers to follow a straight vertical line and therefore allowing the rotor shaft 4 to change its center position accordingly,

further, in order to prevent said rotor shaft 4 from rotating, which may be caused by the frictional resistance imposed thereupon by the rotor center bore 52, the extending shaft end I36 is held in a fixed position by means of the stabilizer member 5 98 which comprises a collar member 299 encompassingsaid shaft end Ififi having a pair of stabilizing pins 252 provided therein, for holding it in position, also, having a pair of side guiding plates 2% which are positioned one at each .side of said bearinghousing I B which engage the bearing surface section 2%, as shown and thus allow said rotor shaft 4 to change its central position in with the rotor 2 without possibility of sideward twist or torque which may be imposed thereunto by the action of said rotor 2 during its revolution.

Itmay also be noted, that in order to provide 7 free movement of the outside eccentric member I66, the body section within the immediate proximity to said worm gear I86 and the worm shaft member I90 is provided with a suitable cut out section 208, permitting said eccentric member I66 to revolve freely in any direction as may be allowed to secure proper position of the center, as in practice may be most desirable.

Said shaft 4, as shown in Fig. 5, comprises a shell member 2 I which is provided with a recess 2I2 at its inside section, having its bore 2I4 diametrically smaller as shown, and having its outside'diameter correspondingly engaging the bore I68, as previously described, including said pair of shoulder sections 48 against which the bearings 46 are set at the rotor end 2I6 and provided with suitable Ienclosing cap 50, see Figs. 1 and 5. Within said bore 2I4 and the recess 2I2 is placed a fluid passage control member 2I8, which is concentric in its structure and which comprises a rotor end 220 adapted to slidably engage a said recess 2| 2, while the control end 222 is positioned within said bore 2I4 of the shaft 4, also, having its end provided with a suitable locking collar 224, while the rotor end 228 is enclosed with a suitable plug member 226 having an adjusting screw 228 and at the recess section 2l2 having a suitable packing or gasket member 236 provided therein for preventing the fluid passage or leakage therethrough. I

Said control member 2I8 is provided with the fluid inlet passage 232, which is positioned at a suitable eccentricity, as shown in Figs. 2, 5, 8 and 12, having the heavy portion at the section 234 thereof provided with the fluid passage 236, of which, the passage end 238 is leading to the rotor section while the other end 240 is enclosed with a suitable exhaust fitting 242, to which the exhaust pipe 244 is connected.

The fluid inlet passage control 232 is provided with the fluid flow control member 246,'comprising a tubular structure, having a suitable expansion head 248 which is rotatably positioned within the inlet passage'recess 256 and which is pro- W vided with a suitable gasket 252 for preventing] the fluid escape or passage therethrough, also, the center thereof is provided with the fluid inlet opening 254 of which, one end is leading to the expansion chamber 256 wherein the plug member is positioned, as shown at 258, and the other end 268 terminating with a pipe and extension 262, as shown.

It may be noted, that the control end 222 of the fluid passage control member 2I8 is provided with a collar, which is equipped with a suitable lever 264 and which is for the purpose to control theforward or reverse movement of the rotor 2,

while the end 260 of said'fluid inlet passage control 232 is provided with a suitable collar member 266 which is also equipped with a lever memher 268, which is adapted for regulating the volume of the fluid passing through the expansion chamber 256 and through the portsv 62 previously mentioned. I

Said fluid passage ports 62 and the exhaust ports 218, see Figs. 1, 5, 9,10 and 11, are directly in line of fluid flow passing into and out of the cylinders 56, connecting the cylinder ports or passages 60 which are so positioned, so that the fluid flow is at all times unobstructed during the revolution of said cylinders around the said shoulder section 48 of the rotor shaft 4, however, in order to provide variable fluid flow control, said ports '62 are segregated into a plurality of openings, as shown, so that the passage of said fluid may be controlled while passing therethrough and which is accomplished by means of the cut out section 212 which is provided in the expansion head 246, its opening leading from the fluid expansion chamber 256 and which, in operation, when turning it in a clockwise direction by means of said lever 268, see Fig. 9, it will allow a gradual increase of the flow of said fluid through said plurality of ports 62 and consequently gaging the fluid flow in proportion as the opening becomes greater and a greater number of ports become uncovered, thus causing said cylinders to revolvein the clockwise direction and at the same time acquire greater'amount of power, while the exhaust ports 216 will allow completely free fluid passage and therefore eliminating entirely any and all back pressures in the cylinders, see Fig. 10.

Also, in order to reverse the rotation of said rotor 2 and said cylinders 56, the lever 264 is turned around and approximately degrees, which reverses the inlet and the exhaust ports which correspondingly leadto the said cylinders, then by advancing the opening passage 212 of said expansion chamber 256 by means of the controlling lever 268 directing it in the direction it is required to revolve said rotor 2 wherein the identical and same fluid flow movement and the control of the fluid passage may be accomplished, as previously described, as shown in Fi 11.

In order to control the stroke of said pistons 66 within said cylinders 56 the control wheel I94 is turned in the required direction as in practice may be desirable, that is clockwise for the forward movement and anticlockwise for the reverse, which causes the outside'eccentric I 60 to revolve accordingly, having a suitable control rod 214 attached thereto, see Fig. 12, thus adjusting the position of the bell-crank member 216 causing it to pivot, see Fig. 1, which in turn will actuate correspondingly the cross rod member 218 of which the connecting end is engaging the bell-crank member 286 while the opposite arm 282'having a drift rod member 284 attached thereto which connects with the control lever I03 of the yoke member 96.

The yoke member 96 in controlling the position of the collar 94 causes said pivot bar member 84 and the link extension member 86 to change their position accordingly, which regulates the transverse position of the cross link member ID, consequently a full control .of said pistons, in respect to their strokes is accomplished and in addition, such control is in its entirety in conformity to the center location of said rotor 2, also, the rearward movement of the collar 94 causes the linkage I20 and I26 to actuate accordingly which will recede the position of said roller I I2, thus causing the diametrical change of roller surface contact, which is also in accordance to the center position of said rotor 2 and which will at all times control the planetary movement or rotation of said rotor 2 in relation to the rotation of said fly-wheel 6.

Further, in order to prevent an undue friction of said collar 94 particularly at its bore section, said fly-wheel web 28 is provided with a cylindrical extension 286 which is an integral part thereof, see Figs. 1 and 4.- upon which said collar 94 is slidably positioned and revolving thereon together with said fly-wheel 6, while the internal surface of said extension 286 is free from any contact with the outside diameter of the bearing extension Stand thus eliminating the surface friction entirely, otherwise unavoidable.

In the .Fig. 16 I have provided a novel. form of synchronized control means, comprising a pair of bevel gears 28'! and 288, of which, the gear 281 is connected to the shaft [90 while the gear The nut 302 isplaced in floating position within theend of the frame member 304 and held in place by means of a pin .386, while said frame 304 is extending upwardly and connecting the yoke shaft 398 to which said yoke member 56 is attached, as previously mentioned.

In operation, when turning the wheel 194 said bevel gears 28! and 288.together with the bevel gears 294 and 296 will revolve causing'the cross shaft member 298 to turn allowing the threaded end 300 to engage thenut member 302, therefore causing said lever member 394 and theyoke member 96 to pivot in the direction desired, thus allowing the piston connecting rods to become adjusted for long or short stroke and co-relatively changing the center positionof said rotor 2, as previously mentioned.

In the Fig. 17 I have shown the piston stroke adjusting means in modified form, comprising a suitable control plate BIO which is concentrically mounted upon the fly-wheel shaft, having the stroke adjusting control rods 3l2 connected as at 3! at one end, while the other end.3l6 is connected at the swivel point to the cross link member Hi to which the piston connecting rod 66 is attached, thus, by turning said control plate 3I0 in one direction said cross link members 10 will assume a co-relative position and in conformity to the center position of said rotor 2, and, since the operation of the essential parts of the apparatus is identical in function as previously described therefore further explanation is not deemed necessary.

It may be noted, however, that the adjustment of the rotor center in relation to the center posiion of the fly-wheel, including the stroke adjustment of the piston connecting rods 66,will cause said piston members 64 to follow the, cylinder head sec-tion 58, notwithstanding, that the planetary motion of the rotor member is at all times controlled and supported by the contact rollers and therefore, decreasing or increasing the piston stroke within said cylinders and correspondingly decreasing or increasing the fluid consumption, further, as in case of a pump and compressor, such change of the functional parts of the apparatus will decrease or increase the volumetric efliciency thereof.

While I have thus described my invention with great particularity it will be clear that the same may be modified throughout a wide range. I accordingly do not propose to be limited to the exact details of construction herein shown on the drawings and described in the specification, but reserve the rights in practice to make the necessary changes and modifications therein, which may come within the scope of the appended claims. 7

I claim as my invention:

1. An apparatus of the class described operable by expansible fluids comprising a housing, a center chamber in-said housing, a front and rear cover'attached at each side of said housing, a

bearing disposed in the offset center in each of said front and rearcovers, a shaft member .revolubly mounted within the bearing of said rear cover, a fly wheel mounted upon said shaft mem-- ber, a rotor shaft adjusting means mounted. in the bearing of said. front cover, arotor. shaft mountedwithin said rotor shaft adjusting means at one end having its other end extending in,- teriorly of said centerchamber, a shoulder section disposed at the extended end'of said rotor shaft, a rotor means revolubly mounted upon said shoulder section of said rotor shaft, a-pluerality of cylinders disposed in said rotor means each of which extends centripetally toward the center .of said rotor shaft shoulder sec-tion, a

. plurality. of fluid passages in said shoulder section of said rotor shaft in juxtaposition to {said cylinders in said rotor means, a piston disposed in each of said cylinders and each having a connecting rod pivotally mounted therein and extending outwardly therefrom, a cross link member pivotally connected to each connectingrod at one end having the other end pivotally connected to the rim of said fly wheel, means associated with said rotor shaft adjusting means for controlling the off-center position of said rotor means and said rotor shaft, means associated with said rotor shaft adjusting means including each cross link member for variably controlling the piston strokes in said cylinders, and fluid flow control means connected to said rotor shaft for controlling the fluid flow through said apparatus and also for controlling the forward and the reverse rotation of said rotor means and said rear bearing of said rear cover, a fly wheel mounted upon the end of said shaft means and positioned within said center chamber of said housing having the fly wheel rim section extending the entire width thereof, a rotor shaft adjustably mounted within said front bearing having its end extending internally of said housing, a rotor revolubly mounted upon the extended end of said rotor shaft and positioned entirely within said flywheel rim section, a plurality of cylinder means positioned within said rotor and disposed centripetally therein and extending toward the center of said rotor, a piston slidably disposed within each of said cylinders, connecting rod means hingedly connected to said piston at one end having its other end extending outwardly from said cylinder, a cross link hingedly connected to the extended end of said connecting rod at one end having its opposite end pivotally attached to said rim section of said fly wheel, means connected to each cross link for controlling and regulating the position of said pistons within said cylinders, an adjusting means disposed in said front bearing for adjusting and controlling the position of each of said cross links and also for variably regulating the center position of said rotor and the length of the piston stroke within said cylinders, and fluid passage means dispc'sdiwithin 'said Trctor shaft' and said rotor for interconnecting saidcylinders andfor directingv the fluid flowin'to; and toutof said cylinders during the revolu'tionof, said'rotor.

3. In a power'unit of the: class described; a housing having a centerchamber, a front and rear'cover member connected to the respective sides of said housing, a rear bearingiposition'in V ternally of said housing and within said: fly wheel rim-section, a rotor revolubly mounted upon said extended end of said-rotor shaft meansrand po'sitioned. internally within said flywheel1rim;section of saidzfly wheel, a plurality of cylinders centripetally positioned within said rotor, a piston: slidably disposed'within each of saidcylin-u r ders, connecting rod hingedly connected .at one end to saidrpiston having'its other end extending outwardly from said cylinder, piston control meanshingedly connected to said extended and of said connecting rod atone end having its 1 opposite end pivotally attached to an eyelet in said rim section of said fly wheel for controlling the piston position within said cylinder, means associated with said rotor shaft. means and connecting to the last mentioned means for regulate ing the center position of said rotor including the piston stroke within said cylinder, fluid passage means disposed within said rotor shaft means and said rotor for inter-connecting said "cylin-' ders, a fluid passageregulating me'ans disposed in said rotor shaft means and associated with said fluid passage of said rotor andvsaid cylinders for regulating the fluid flow at variable volume andpressure into and out of said cylinders during the revolution of saidrotor.

4. The combination of elements as described in claim 2', including a plurality'of roller control'means connected to said fly wheel and said rotor andsoperatively connected with said cross link for supporting and for maintaining the proper-relative position of said rotor and said fly wheel during their revolving movement.

'5. The combination" of elements as described in claim 3, 'including a fluid flow control means connected to and associated 'with said rotor shaftmeans for-controlling the fluid flow at variable volume and pressurethrough the inlet and exhaust passages and adapted to control the forward and the reverse rotation of said rotor during the operation of said power unit.

BQERNHARD'IY' TJFITZPATRICK. 

